Hazzard reveals NSW planning agenda

NSW Planning Minister
Brad Hazzard
says he is hopeful changes to the state’s planning system will eliminate “site-specific wars" over development applications.

The Coalition government plans to release its first official position on how development in the state should be managed by the end of this month. At a development forum held by the NSW branch of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, Mr Hazzard said the plans would be “radical".

Communities would be engaged extensively in deciding the planning rules for their neighbourhood, but then have much less say about specific developments taking place in their street, he said.

“When we get to where I think we will be, people who own land . . . will be able to identify that if I’m in this footprint, at this height, I’ll be able to get an approval in weeks, rather than years," Mr Hazzard said.

“The community has its say upfront [but] later on the site-specific wars that occur now because people don’t feel engaged should cease. That’s the aim.

“That’s a bit of a challenge because often most of the community don’t switch on until it’s right in their backyard but that’s where we need to go. We need to find a way that facilitates the community’s involvement in that strategic planning because they need to own the outcome. They may not like it but they have to own it."

He said he was seeking funds from Treasury to be used in outer suburban areas of cities where the lack of infrastructure prevents housing development.

“We might say to various business partners if you want to do this, we will work with you," Mr Hazzard said.

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Reforming the government’s development arm, LandCom, was a priority. “You [need to] have an agency that can bring people together, bring various blocks of land together, work with the private sector and make sure that where there are blockages, you move through them, and bring various government agencies to the same room."

Other plans would bring more certainty to people who owned land in areas that could be affected by rising sea levels.

But his original 18-month timetable could be extended into next year.

“If we have even a tiny hint that there is an element of concern [towards the draft exposure bill] by the community or industry, I think it makes sense to put it out, say, four months before Christmas, come back in the new year and tailor it," he said.